Press



Feb. '10, 1925. 1,526,036

' J. G. ZWICKER PRESS Filed June 25, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ii I ziguin'l ii 21 alum LPQCAM, I

ildbmeys- Patented Feb. 10, 1925.

UNITED STATES nane PATENT OFFICE.

JULIUS G. ZWICKER, OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO EDWIN L. POVIELL, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

PRESS.

Application filed June 25, 1923. Serial No. 647,465.

'1 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JULIUS G..Z\VIGKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Berkeley, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Presses, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to fluid pressure operated presses of a type adapted for the compression or molding of plastic substances.

The object of my invention is to provide a press of the type describedwhich is capable of exerting effective pressure simultaneously from all directions in a given plane. A further object is to provide such a press which has a minimum number of parts, and which is, therefore, simple in construction and operation. These and other objects will be broughtout in the following complete description of a preferred embodiment of my invention, which is particularly adapted for the pressing or molding of cylindrical or tubular objects of plastic material, such for example as a cement. concrete mixture. It will be obvious, however, that my invention is not restricted to the described use, but may be adapted with equal success to any other purpose for which presses of this general type are suitable. Moreover, it' is to be understood that changes may be made in the form and construction of the device as herein described and illustrated, without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the claims hereto appended.

My invention will now be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a sectional plan view of my press, taken on the line 11 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken principally on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1, the mold bars being 1 Supp rting me ns therefor.

. 12 projecting from the lower ring 9.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental horizontal section, enlarged, of a. number of the mold bars, showing their relation to each other and to the operating ring.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation, enlarged, of one of the mold bars.

In the drawings, and referring for the moment to Figs. 1 and 2, the reference numerals 1 designate fixed supporting columns, of which there are preferably four, equally spaced as shown. Each column 1 carries a fixed collar or bracket 2, in which is journaled a vertical train of intermeshing spur gears comprising an upper gear 3, a lower gear 4, and a pair of intermediate idlers 5. The upper gears 3 support, by means of rack members 6, a ring 7, and the lower gears 4 similarly support, by means of rack members 8, a ring 9, said ring 9 being positioned below and in vertical alignment with the ring 7. On account of the relations of the gear trains 3, 4t, 5 and the racks 6 and 8, any vertical movement of the upper ring 7 will cause a correspond ing but opposite movement of the lower ring 9, and, on account of the relatively greater weight of the upper ring 7 the rings normally tend to approach each other, the upper ring 7 moving down and the lower ring 9 moving up. The rings 7 and 9 have no rotative or horizontal movement, and, if desired, any suitable means forpreventing such movement may be provided, but such means have been omitted from the drawings as being non-essential to the operation of the device.

The vertical movement of the rings and 9 is limited by guide rods 10, Fig. 3, which are fixed inlugs 11 at the periphery of the upper ring 7, and pass freely through Slugs aid rods are provided with spaced nuts 13 and 1 1 to limit, respectively, the separation and approach of the rings 7 and 9. By adjusting the nuts ll upon the rods 10, the rela tive movement of said rings toward each other may be varied, for a purpose which will become apparent later.

The collars 2 support fixed brackets 15, Fig. 2, extending into the space between the rings 7 and 9, and carrying a. fixed annular member 16, which serves as a support for the mold bars 17. The mold itself is formed of a plurality of bars 17, disposed vertically within the movable rings 7 and 9 and the annular support 16, and closely spaced, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, to form, in effect, a cylinder composed of ad jpcent bars separated by narrow spaces or s its.

Each mold bar 17 is provided on its outer edge with pins 18, Figs. 2 and 5, which pass freely through holes or guide-ways 19 in the annular support 16. In the drawings, I have shown each bar 17 as provided with three such pins 18, but more or less may be used as necessary. The mold bars 17 are thus supported, in their proper positions, by the pins 18 and the annular support 16, and are permitted to have a limited radial movement, to cause the. mold to contract and expand.

his to be understood that any other suitablemeans for supporting the mold bars 17 maybe substituted for the ring 16 and the 7 pins 18, the construction shown and de scribed above being typical of any supportting means which will permitsaid bars 17 to: have a limited "radial movement.

Themold bars 17 are provided, on their "outeredges, with oppositely inclined surfaces 20, wh1ch he against and cooperate with the truncated conical inner peripheries 21'of the-rings 7 and 9, as shown in Fig. 2.

"Said bars are also provided with inclined :15

slots 22, Figs. 2 and 7,.parallel to the in c-lined surfaces 20, and adapted to be enga-ged by conical annular flanges 23 secured to the rlngs 7 and 9 as shown in said 2. Therefore, when the rings 7 and 9 .are separated, by opposite :vertical movements, the bars 17 are movedradially inwardly, to cont act themold, and when said rings are moved to ether the bars 17 are drawn outclined slots 22.

wardly to expand the mold, by the engagement of the conical flanges 23withthe in- The upper ring 7 has an annularchamber 24, Figs. .2, 3 and 4, extending upwardly from its lower surface, and forming the working cylinder. An annular plston 25 operates inv said cylinder, suitable packing rings or glands 26 being provided to prevent leakage. The annular piston 25 rests loosely upon a series of studs 27 secured to ring 9. "The working fluid is admitted to and. projecting upwardly from the lower pand discharged from the annularcylinder 24 through a connection 28, Fig. 2, con-- trolled by any suitable means, as for example a three-way valve 29. Thus when said valve-29 is operated to admit .fluid vithe mold.

piston 25 and the studs 27. This separation of the rings 7 and 9 contracts the mold by moving the bars 17 inwardly, as described above. lVhen the valve 29 is operated to out off the fluid supply, and permit the discharge of the fluid within the annular cylinder 24:, the upper ring 7 descends by its own weight, and lifts thelower ring 9 through the agency of the gear trains 3, 4i, 5, and the racks 6 and 8, thereby expanding The amount of movement of the mold bars 17 is regulated by changing the positions of the adjustable nuts 14: on the guide rods 10, said nuts limiting the approach of the rings 7 and Q'and consequently the outwardmovement of the mold bars. Thelower nuts 13 are preferably secured permanently upon the rods 14, byany convenient means not shown in thedrawings, to preventtheir accidental removal and consequent damage to the-machine.

It willbe observed that the gear trains 3, 1, 5 and the racks 6 and '8 have no other function, than to support the weight of the rings 7 and 8 and to equalize the movements thereof, and therefore are not subject to the working force of the power fluid, such force being exerted directly. upon the two rings through the annular piston 25 and the studs 27. On accountof this direct application of the working force, no heavy supporting or guiding frame is necessary, and the rings 7 and 9 can be suliiciently held and guided by said racks and gear trains.

It is also to be noted that, on account of the individual movement of the mold bars 17, the spaces betweeirsaid bars are caused to expand and contract with the, expansion and contraction of the mold. This permits the mold to be easily cleaned, as any solid 7 particles that may lodge between the bars 17 during the. contraction of the mold are loosened when said bars are separated by the subsequent expansion ofthe mold, and may be easily removed by washing or other suitable means. On account of this construction I am enabled to space the bars 17 very closely, a space of. one one-hundredth of an inch for. compressing either solid or -hollow articles. If it is used for thela'tter, such for example asv sections of pipe, a suitable core may be employed, but as such: core forms no. part-of thep'resent invention, it is indicated only by the dotted line' 30 iirFig.

1. Moreover, my press obviously-need not "be restricted to the cylindrical-form as shown and above described, the essential pl'inciples'of the invention, as expressed in V the following claims, applying equally well to forms in whichrthe-mold is polygonal or ing oppositely directed inclined faces on.

their backs; a pair of members surrounding said bars and adapted for respective engagement with the inclined faces thereof; and means for moving said members longitudinally of said mold, in opposite directions simultaneously, to effect the contraction and 7 expansion thereof.

3. A press comprising a plurality of laterally movable spaced bars forming a mold, said bars having oppositely directed inclined faces on their backs; a pair of members surrounding said bars and adapted for respective engagement with the inclined faces thereof; and means for moving said members longitudinally of the mold to effect the contraction thereof, comprising a cylinder associated with one of said members, a piston operable in said cylinder and associated with the other member, and means for admitting fluid under pressure to said cylinder.

4. A press comprising a plurality of laterally movable spaced bars forming a-mold, said bars having oppositely directed inclined faces on their backs; a pair of members surrounding said bars and adapted for respective engagement with the inclined faces thereof; means for moving said mem bers in opposite directions simultaneously to effect the contraction and expansion of the mold; and means associated with said members for equalizing the movements thereof.

A press comprising a plurality of later ally movable spaced bars forming a mold, said bars having oppositely directed inclined faces on their backs; a pair of members surrounding said bars and adapted for respective engagement with. the inclined faces thereof; means for moving said members in opposite directions simultaneously to effect the contraction and expansion of the mold; and supporting means associated with said members for equalizing their movements.

6. A press comprising a plurality of laterally movable spaced bars forming a mold; a pair of members surrounding said bars and movable longitudinally of the mold; means for translating the longitudinal movement of said members into lateral movement of sald bars to contract and ex pand the mold; and means for moving said members simultaneously in opposite directions.

' 7. A press comprising a pluralityof laterally movable spaced bars forming a mold; a pair of members surrounding said bars and'movable longitudinally of the mold; means for translating the longitudinal movement of saidmembers into lateral movement of said bars to contract and expand the mold; means for moving said members simultaneously in opposite direc-' tions; and devices for equalizing the movements of said members.

8. A press comprising a plurality of laterally movable spaced bars'forming a mold; a pair of members surrounding said bars and movable longitudinally of the mold;

means for translating the longitudinal movement of said members into lateral movement of said bars to contract and expand the mold; means for moving said members simultaneously in opposite directions; and devices for movably supporting said members and for equalizing the movements thereof.

9. A press comprising a plurality of laterally movable spaced bars forming a mold; means for supporting said bars; means for moving said bars outwardly to expand the mold; a member surrounding said bars and movable longitudinally of the mold; and means for translating the longitudinal movement of said member into lateral movement of said bars to contract the mold.

10. A press comprising a mold capable of contraction and expansion; a pair of members surrounding said mold and movable longitudinally thereof; means for translat ing the longitudinal movement of said members into lateral contractive and expansive movement of said mold; and means for moving said members simultaneously in opposite directions.

11. A press comprising a mold capable. of contraction and expansion; a pair of mem bers surrounding said mold and movable longitudinally thereof; means for translating the longitudinal movement of said members into lateral contractive and expansive movement of said mold; and means for moving said members simultaneously in opposite directions, comprising a cylinder associated with one of said members, a piston operable in said cylinder and connected with the other member, and means for admitting fluid under pressure to said cylinder.

12. A press comprising a mold capable of contraction and expansion; a pair of members surrounding said mold and movable longitudinally thereof; means for translating the longitudinal movement of said members into lateral contractive and expansive move *ment ofsaid mold ;-and--1neans for moving saidmembers simultaneously in opposite directions,"comprising an annular cylinder associa.ted-\vith-one of saidmembers and-'surrounding said mold, an annular piston op- ,e-r'able in said cylinder and connected with the othersmember, and means for admit-ting fluid under pressure to said cylinder.

longitudinally thereof, oneof said members having 'a substantially annular channel formin 'ac linder' a substantiall annular piston operable 1n said cylinder; a connectron between said plston and the other member; means for admitting fluid under pressureto said cylinder to cause the relativev moving-said member longitudinally of the mold to effect the contraction and expansion movement of said members; and means for translating the longitudmal movement of said members into contnactive movement of .7 said mold.

14. In a-press having a: mold adapted for contraction, a member surrounding said mold; and having a substantially annular channelforming a cylinder; asubstantially" annularpiston operable in said cylinder;

said cylinder 5' and means for translatingthe relative 'mo-vementof said member. and said piston into contractive'movement of'said 1110101.

15. A press comprising a mold adapted for lateral contraction and expansion; 21- pair of members surroundmgsaid mold and adapted for substantially vertical movement toward and 1 away from each other; means for translating the substantially vertical movement of said members into contractive andexpansivemovement ofsaid mold; con- ;troll.able power devices for separating said --1ne1nbers to cause the contraction of the =1nold;and means actuated by the Weight of I one of said members for causing them to move toward each other to cause the expansion of the mold.

16. A press comprising a plurality of movable bars forming a mold, said bars being formed with inclined'slots; a member surroundingsaid barsand adapted for engagement' with said slots; and means for thereof.

17. A press comprising a plurality of "movable bars forming a'mold, said bars being formed with inclined slots; a pair of members surrounding said bars and adapted for engagement with said slots; and

means for moving said members simulmeans for zachnlttmg fimd under pressure to 1 taneously and in opposite directions, to ef- "feet the contraction andexpansion of said mold.

name to this specification.

JULIUS Gr. ZVVIGKER. 

